• Malibu Creek formed the canyon as it eroded through sedimentary layers as they were tilted upward to form the Santa Monica Mountains and thus it is older than the range itself. The Rindge Dam is visible at lower right, partly hidden by a Ceanothus bush. The dam was built by the owners of the Malibu Ranch (present day Malibu) in the early 20th century. It is now full of silt and serves no purpose while blocking the runs of endangered steelhead trout and is presently slated for removal.
• The common chaparral plants in the foreground are gray fine-leaved California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), and colorful Deerweed, (Lotus scoparius). This canyon burned in a brush fire in 1993, ten years prior to the photograph.

Credits

Photographed and uploaded by user:Geographer.

• Taken April 26, 2003.